625 points deducted from drivers' licenses in one weekend

zarion · 5th July 2006, 15:33

The first weekend in Tenerife of the new points deduction system for motoring offences brought rich pickings for the Traffic Branch. A total of 625 points were docked from drivers' licenses, the majority for drinking and driving.

142 drivers, 120 of the male, were stopped for a range of offences during the first 48 hours of the controversial system, which will see repeat offenders lose their licence and have to take refresher courses to regain permission to take to the wheel again. 88 of the offences were drink-related and led automatically to the deduction of six of the twelve points allocated to each licence on 1 July. Only 21 of the drivers penalised were aged over 25.

Source: News Canarias

oldlad · 21st July 2006, 13:07

Zarion, how does the points system work for holiday makers? Do the points get added to their licences, or are foriegners treated differently to the locals?

KirstyJay · 21st July 2006, 17:38

If you have a foreign license you get a hefty fine and put on the dangerous drivers register, so I would assume it's the same for holidaymakers... i.e. you get fined - big time.

oldlad · 22nd July 2006, 12:54

Something had to be done eventually about the bad/drunk/stupid (take your pick) drivers that I am sure we all see, but I wonder if the police keep foreign drivers, especially holiday makers who may fly home before the fine can be collected?

THORtenerife · 24th July 2006, 21:09

if you dont live in spain,you have to pay any fine on the spot,if your in a hire car,they tow it away,and its taken from your deposit )credit card)

only spainsh licence holders can get points taken away,those with brit licence holiday makers or those of use that live here can be fined up to ten times normal fine instead....

KirstyJay · 25th July 2006, 06:58

My god! Ten times?... that'll be anything up to 6 grand then.

HELSBELS · 25th July 2006, 07:54

What happens then if dont have the cash to pay these on spot fines do you get shot at dawn ?

KirstyJay · 25th July 2006, 08:02

Your car gets towed and you have to go to the impound place and pay the fine plus towing/impound costs to get it back, I presume...

If you can prove you live here, they may allow you to go and pay at the post office, as they did previously...

It maybe worth getting a Spanish license!!!

HELSBELS · 25th July 2006, 18:23

Thanks thats the next thing on the agenda i think .

KirstyJay · 25th July 2006, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELSBELS

Thanks thats the next thing on the agenda i think .

Make sure you get a copy of your UK license first... report it 'stolen' with DVLA. That way when they take it off you and change it over to a Spanish one, you don't lose your UK one.